Penjikent & The Seven Lakes, Tajikistan

Tajikistan is the smallest country in Central Asia and also happens to be landlocked. Over 90% of the country's territory is mountainous, making Tajikistan known worldwide as one of the largest mountaineering centers that attracts tourists who love outdoorsy activities like trekking. Truly, the landscape of the country is beautiful! and any nature lover would fall in love with what Tajikistan has to offer.

I was based in a city called Penjikent which was once an essential town on the Silk Road and prior to that it already had a long history dating thousands of years back. The city is strategically located to take an excursion to the Marguzor Lakes (seven lakes) which is a series of interconnected mountain lakes that have vibrant colors that are always changing depending on the climate. First day in Penjikent was spent checking out some of the main sites such as:

The National Museum - I highly recommended checking this out and learning the history of not only the country, but the city itself, for greater appreciation of it's long history. 

Ancient Ruins - Got to visit an archaeological site which was once a settlement dating back hundreds of years. In the process, ran into some kids who were flying kites which was cool. The kites looked like real birds too!

Random siting during the drive round the city.

Also visited the local market which was bustling with activities and people, I thought I took photos but turns out I didn't.

The second day in the city was reserved for the main attraction which is the Seven Lakes, the lakes are in the Fann Mountains, the lowest lake has an elevation of 1640 meters (5381 feet) while the highest has an elevation of 2400 meters (7874 feet). We (tour group) were driven by a minivan through the roads passing by each lake, the terrain was rugged and rough and every time we got to a lake the minibus would stop for 10 -15 minutes as we got off and admired the sites and walked around a little bit. The weather was overcast which made the lakes look all the same but when the sun eventually came out the colors got enhanced and looked beautiful!

Surprise! guess who joined me on this great adventure, my husband.

We drove by 6 lakes but since the terrain to the 7th lake was too rough, we had to hike up to the last lake. Prior to beginning the hike we stopped for lunch with a local family and got an insight into their daily life. After lunch we begun the hike up to the 7th lake.

The hike to the 7th lake was to take a total of 2 hrs going up and down, it was fun and games until the high altitude got to me. I was panting like a dog and was getting exhausted so fast, honestly I was miserable during the hike up and to make matters worse, it begun raining.

 

I finally made it to the 7th lake and felt such a sense of accomplishment because that hike up almost knocked me out and I almost gave up several times but thought what a shame it would have been to come this far and miss out on the 7th and last lake.

That's it folks! going back down the mountain was much easier than going up and even though I was wet from the rain and exhausted, I was glad to have gone on this adventure. We ended up having a really nice dinner in the evening before calling it a night.

Quick Facts:

The capital of Tajikistan is Dushanbe

Official languages are: Tajik and Russian

Their currency is called Somoni and $1 is equivalent to about 11 Somonis

The country is landlocked and in about 93% mountainous

No Visa needed for American passport holders

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Next stop after Kazakhstan was Kyrgyzstan, I flew into Bishkek the capital city which appeared to have a slower pace than Almaty. Over 90% of the country is mountainous and with that, you get such beautiful views of the mountains surrounding the city. I had a short walking tour in the center of the city and got to see some of the sites see below:

Lenin Statue - This was erected in 1984 and after the fall of communism all statues of Lenin were taken down but this one still stands. 

Ala Too Square - This is in the center of the city and the largest square where people gather for events or hang out. If you are interested in soviet era architecture, you can see several buildings around the square depicting this. I personally don't find that type of architecture aesthetically appealing.

Love how colorful these slippers are, this was at the local market.

Central Mosque at night, so pretty!

I spent a day in Bishkek which I think was enough, the following day I headed to check out The Burana Tower located 80km (about 50 miles) from Bishkek. This historical tower is a minaret that was built between the 10th & 11th centuries and is one of the key historical sites in the country, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is actually one of the most famous minarets in Central Asia, the architecture is pretty impressive and it actually used to be taller than what is seen now. The cool part is you can actually get inside and climb to the top.

Close to the tower is an ancient burial site marked with interesting stone carvings

How beautiful is the scenery below? this was during the drive out of Bishkek, views like these were a dime a dozen, I couldn't get enough though.

Had the pleasure of observing traditional Kyrgyz national horse games. Traditionally, the Kyrgyz people were nomadic and had to be very well experienced in riding horses, fighting on horses and picking stuff up from the ground while riding a horse. These games although entertaining, are also a form of training for the riders and watching them you can't help but be impressed by how skilled they are on horses. They start teaching kids as early as 4 years old how to ride horses so you can imagine how skilled they are by the time they reach adulthood.

I got the opportunity to see how a yurt is constructed and was able to get in one to get a feel of it, they are so cozy and cute with carpet laid on the ground and decorative items hang inside. I certainly wouldn't mind camping in one!

That's it folks! if you love hiking and natural landscapes, Kyrgyzstan is definitely the place to check out. 

Quick Facts:

Islam is the Dominant religion in the country

Main languages spoken are: Kyrgyz, Russian and Uzbek

Their currency is called Som and $1 is equivalent to 88 Some

No Visa needed for American Passport Holders.

The country is landlocked lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir mountain ranges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan was the first stop of my 5 "Stans" Central Asia adventure. I chose Advantour to help with itineraries, visas and logistics just because Central Asia is huge and being that I don't have the luxury of taking months off to travel, it just made more sense to have a tour company help out and ensure that I would be able to cover the highlights of each "Stan" in a short period of time in order to get a taste of what they have to offer. Their services were amazing and I highly recommend them!

In Kazakhstan, I was based in the city of Almaty which used to be the capital city up until 1997. It's the largest metropolis of the country and remains the country's cultural and trading hub. The city is beautiful! and the tree lined boulevards enhance it's beauty even more. Unfortunately it was rainy during my stay in Almaty but the show still had to go on so I managed to check out some of the main highlights of the city. 

Zenkov Cathedral - Beautiful Russian orthodox cathedral made of wood with no nails

Panfilov Park - This urban park has a rich history and was established as the city garden in 1872. It's a pretty park to walk around and even though it was rainy when I visited, I can imagine how lively it gets when the sun is out.

Green Bazaar - This is the most famous bazaar in Almaty located in the city center. Here, you can get a taste of different local cuisines such as horse meat which I had a taste of, I thought it tastes like beef.

City Museum - If you are curious to learn about the country's history which I would recommend, head to the museum. It's not too big and you can get through it within a reasonable time depending on how you pace yourself.

Shymbulak Ski Resort - Largest ski resort in Central Asia so for those that love winter activities, this place has you covered.

That's it folks, even though I felt like I nearly scratched the surface of this huge country, I was glad to have got a little taste of it and wouldn't mind visiting again to see more. The people were super friendly, local food was cheap and I honestly fell in love with Almaty's vibe. 

Quick Facts:

Kazakhstan is the largest and richest country in Central Asia

Islam is the dominant religion in the country

The main languages spoken are Kazakh and Russian

Visa Free for American Passport holders

Their currency is called Tenge and $1 is equivalent to about 440 Tenges (give room for fluctuation)

Great Adventure in Central Asia

Hey folks! I am currently on a great adventure covering the 5 stans in Central Asia and those are: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. I started in Kazakhstan and for some reason my blog kept being flagged as an unsafe website so I couldn't even log in to write about my adventures. I am constantly on the move so it's been hectic but I am loving it! Once I get some down time I will write more. In the meantime, check out the map below to get an idea of where the countries I am visiting are situated.

 

Chill Birthday Vibes

Happy Birthday to me! for the past 14 years I have been celebrating my birthday in different countries but this year I am staying put. The initial plan had actually been to take a big trip during my birthday but circumstances had me postponing the trip to April so watch this space for an epic post birthday trip. In the meantime, take a walk down memory lane with me as I share my birthday adventures over the years.

2010 - Portugal (first solo trip, I was so scared and I remember trembling on my ride to the hostel from the airport. Who knew that this was the beginning of amazing adventures over the years).

2011 - Israel (had a great time in Jerusalem but Tel Aviv rubbed me off the wrong way. Taxi drivers kept stopping by my side asking for my price, initially I couldn't understand what they meant till it finally dawned on me, yikes!)

2012 - Peru (this trip opened my eyes to what South America had to offer and I wanted to see more. Visiting Machu Picchu was an unforgettable experience).

2013 - Colombia (this trip planted the seed of long term travel through South America, I met several solo female travelers who had been traveling for several months through South America and they inspired me to want to do the same).

2014 - Panama (honestly, Panama wasn't on my radar but it was conveniently located on my way to Colombia to start my long term travel through South America after having quit my job. Venezuela my first choice wasn't safe so I settled for Panama, I still had a good time so no complaints).

2015 - Galapagos (I was living in Ecuador at the time so it made sense to visit Galapagos, I had a good time as usual and when I came back from that trip, my then boyfriend proposed and we got married a few months later).

2016 - Mexico (I stayed with a local family and they showed me such a good time. Had all the delicious Mexican food imaginable, had food poisoning later but that's a story for another day. Mexico City won my heart and I could totally see myself living there.)

2017 - Guatemala (this country was such a pleasant surprise! it exceeded my expectations)

2018 - Cuba (for the longest time I had romanticized this country and was so excited to visit. I met great people that I am still in contact with but seeing the hardships that regular citizens go through, quickly slapped me into reality and got me off the bubble I was in).

2019 - Jordan ( I had read about Jordanian hospitality and got fascinated to learn more about the country. I was warmly received and met good people along the way. Can't forget the sweet taxi driver who took it upon himself to show me around during his free time. We actually became buddies and are still in touch).

2020 - Japan (who can forget this year, went to Japan just as news of the pandemic was spreading. I am so glad that I didn't cancel the trip because it was amazing and I loved Japan. Lockdown started just as my plane landed back in the US).

2021 - Puerto Rico (many countries still had tight rules concerning covid so options were limited, figured it was about time I visited Puerto Rico since I had always wanted to visit and it presented an easier option at the time).

2022 - Lebanon (my fascination with the Middle East led me to this country, such a beautiful country despite the economic hardships being faced by majority of the citizens. Great food too!)

2023 - India (while I appreciate the historic and cultural sites that I visited, this is one country that I wouldn't want to re-visit, I will just leave it at that).

That's it folks! it's been quite a ride and I am grateful for all the experiences that I have had over the years, the good and the bad. I really don't take it for granted and as long as I am able to, I will continue with my adventures. As I mentioned before, watch this space for my next adventure, it's going to be epic! in the meantime, let me enjoy my birthday cake next to my husband as we binge watch movies on Netflix (it's the simple things folks).